Seattle man charged after dog suffers fatal heat stroke inside car

A Seattle man accused of leaving his dog to suffer fatal heat stroke inside a parked car has been charged with felony animal cruelty.

King County prosecutors contend Oliver Lundt, 34, left Mojave in a car parked in Seattle’s International District on July 7.

Though the daily high temperature was only 77 degree, the dog suffered heat stroke so serious that it had to be put down, according to charging documents. The dog’s internal temperature was 107 degrees by the time help arrived.

“In this incident he left his dog, unattended, in his car on a warm, sunny summer day for almost four hours,” Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Lyn Miller told the court. “The dog had to be euthanized.”

At 3:30 p.m., animal control officers were called to the 1400 block of South King Street following a report that a dog had been barking in a car for three hours.

By the time officers arrived, the dog was on the floor of the car, panting and non-responsive, a Seattle Animal Shelter enforcement officer told the court. Officers broke the car’s window, removed Mojave and attempted to cool him before transporting the dog to Rainier Veterinary Hospital.

According to charging documents, Lundt said he left Mojave in the car at 11 a.m. and went on to claim he’d asked his girlfriend to check on the dog. Interviewed by officers, the woman denied that Lundt had done so.

The dog was ultimately taken to an emergency services veterinary shelter. Due to his condition, he was euthanized.

Writing the court, the animal control officer claimed Lundt showed criminal negligence in leaving his dog to become dehydrated and fatally injured.

Lundt has been charged with first-degree animal cruelty. He has not been jailed in the case.

The national Humane Society warns that pets should not be left unattended in a parked car for any amount of time. On a warm day, temperatures can exceed 120 degrees inside a car within minutes, even if the windows are down.

Anyone in Seattle wishing to report animal abuse or other make other animal-related complaints may contact the Seattle Animal Shelter at 206-386-7387. King County animal control can be contacted at 206-296-7387.